Critical Values Tables
Critical Laboratory Values are defined as values that represent an immediately life-threatening pathophysiological state for any patient regardless of clinical status and which require prompt intervention. All critical laboratory values will be called to a responsible licensed caregiver within 30 minutes.
Click on the links below to go to the table.
Chemistry Critical Values
| Chemistry Tests |
Equal to or Less Than |
Equal to or Greater Than |
| Bilirubin: Age 0 - 30 days |
|
15.0 mg/dL |
| Calcium, Total |
6.5 mg/dL |
12.0 mg/dL |
| Calcium, Ionized |
3.5 mg/dL |
5.8 mg/dL |
| CO2 content |
11.0 mmol/L |
40.0 mmol/L |
|
Glucose: Age 0-24 hrs
(random, fasting, tolerance)
|
40 mg/dL
|
400 mg/dL
|
|
Glucose: Age >24 hrs
(random, fasting, tolerance)
|
50 mg/dL |
400 mg/dL |
| Magnesium |
1.0 mg/dL |
5.0 mg/dL |
| Osmolality, Measured |
250 mOsm/kg |
335 mOsm/kg |
| Phosphorus |
1.0 mg/dL |
|
| Potassium |
2.5 mmol/L |
6.5 mmol/L |
| Sodium |
120 mmol/L |
160 mmol/L |
Top of Page
Hematology and Coagulation Critical Values
| Hematology Tests |
Equal to or Less Than |
Equal to or Greater Than |
| Hematocrit |
|
60% |
| Hemoglobin |
6 g/dL |
|
| WBC |
1.0 K/uL |
50 K/uL |
| Blasts |
|
Presence (>0) |
| Malaria |
|
Presence (>0) |
| Partial Thromboplastin Time |
|
100 sec. |
| Prothrombin Time |
|
40 sec. |
| International NormalizedRatio (INR) |
|
5.0 |
Top of Page
Drug Critical Values
| Drug |
Equal to or Less Than |
Equal to or Greater Than |
| Acetaminophen |
|
50 ug/mL |
| Digoxin |
|
2.5 ng/dL |
| Lidocaine |
|
6.5 ug/mL |
| Lithium |
|
1.5 mmol/L |
| Procainamide (+ NAPA) |
|
30 ug/mL |
| Quinidine |
|
6.0 ug/mL |
Top of Page
Blood Gas Critical Values
| Blood Gas Test |
Values Less Than |
Values Greater Than |
| Arterial Blood Gas: Adult |
|
|
| pH |
7.25 units |
7.60 units |
| pCO2 |
25 mmHg |
60 mmHg |
| pO2 |
60 mmHg |
|
| Arterial Blood Gas: Newborn |
|
|
| pH |
7.20 units |
7.50 units |
| pCO2 |
30 mmHg |
60 mmHg |
| pO2 |
40 mmHg |
90 mmHg |
Top of Page
Microbiology Critical Values
| Test Name |
Result |
| Blood Culture |
Positive Culture or Gram Stain |
| CSF Culture |
Positive Culture or Gram Stain |
| Cryptococcal Antigen |
Positive |
| India Ink Exam |
Positive |
Top of Page
Updated 8/26/2010
|
